This week is a reflection on President's Day. As an attorney and a history buff, I love reading about this country's deep history of the peaceful and orderly transfer of power from one president to the next.
The United States has a great history of influential presidents who left his mark all over the world stage and world history. Though we should be thankful for them every day, President's Day is an especially great time to do so.
In particular, I would like to remember President George Washington. We celebrate President's Day because of him (and President Abraham Lincoln). Washington's birthday is February 22. He did the hard things. He made the sacrifices that no one else would make. He stepped up when no one else could.
Throughout George Washington's adult career, we see constant examples of his steady leadership. He was a farmer at Mount Vernon - he loved his books and his land. But he also knew there was a higher calling. There was something unique about this fledgling country known as America. Time and again, setting aside his personal desire to go home to Mount Vernon, he fought for his country in ways only he could lead.
Washington started representing his country as a member of the Virginia colonial legislature. He attended the first Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1774 to discuss the future of America's independence, including non-importation, which Washington supported and participated in.
By the time the Second Continental Congress met in 1775, war had broken out. Without hesitation, Washington attended this convention in Philadelphia as well. He assumed control of the Continental Army as the general, the highest commanding position of this baby military force, to free America from the oppressive British empire. As he was handed his commission, he simply stated: "I will enter upon this momentous duty and exert every power I posses for the support of the glorious cause."
We all know the stories of the Revolutionary War. Keep in mind - they aren't just stories - they are all real. They actually happened. Let those "stories" come alive to you: crossing the Delaware, freezing temperatures at Valley Forge, the Battle of Long Island, Saratoga and, finally, Yorktown. Washington's ingenious leadership and steady guidance (along with the assistance of the French military) led the entire country to victory.
America secured military victory, and Washington wanted desperately to return home. He actually resigned his commission as the Commander of the Continental Army. He was home in time for Christmas.
But he wasn't finished yet.
George Washington could have chosen to stay at Mount Vernon with his family. He could have kept farming, reading and hunting - all things he loved to do. However, his country needed him again.
He left Mount Vernon to attend the Constitutional Convention of 1787, in Philadelphia. He attended as a delegate from Virginia, and he was quickly elected President of the convention. He presided over the entire meeting. Historical record indicates he did say much; didn't offer much debate. But, as James Monroe summarized in a letter to Thomas Jefferson, "Be assured [Washington's] influence carried the government."
Those 55 imperfect, yet brilliant, men recommended an entirely new kind of government to the state legislatures. This type of Constitutional republic had never been tried. It would be an experiment of the people and the government on a scale never witnessed in this history of humanity.
And it needed a first President, a first leader of the executive branch to faithfully execute laws passed by a first Congress.
George Washington was elected as President of this brand new United States of America. He was the first to take the oath of office, and he kissed the Bible on April 30, 1789. He served in office from 1789 - 1797. He quite literally set the example for future presidents. Everything he did was brand new. He wrote in his First Annual Address: "I have no conception of a more delicate task, than that, which is imposed by the Constitution on the Executive."
He focused on unity and even helped design the city of Washington D.C. He attempted to balance the power of the federal government and states' rights. Washington was a federalist, which means he favored a stronger, centralized government. But his moderate, steady character balanced any favoritism. He simply wanted a prosperous America and traveled all over the growing country.
George and Martha Washington left Philadelphia (the capitol city at the time) just after John Adams was elected as the new President. He returned to Mount Vernon and spent time doing what he hadn't had time for in 20 years - "to set down to dinner by ourselves." Washington passed about two years later, in 1799.
The lesson is simply this: are you the George Washington of your household? Your children? Your workplace? Your church? What hard things are worth fighting for? Working for? Sacrificing for?
Don't be afraid of the hard things. Dig deep for the focus and energy you need to live larger. Though George Washington - the actual person - was a remarkable man worthy of the history books, we can all have Washington's courage if we search within ourselves. Find the narrow path God has laid out for you and step out in fortitude. Your strength is there, and you will find a life well lived.
The hard things are the worthy things. George Washington knew that best of all.
References:
"George Washington", Cheryl Harness, National Geographic Society (2000).
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